Regulator for sound reproducing and synchronizing machines



Sept. 1, 1931. c. H: GARRETT ET AL 1,321,630

' REGULATOR FOR SOUND REPRC JDUCING AND' SYNCHRONIZING MACHINES fifiwzli fialmitv Bnmmllaner 3 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY .Sept." 1', 1931'- c; H. GARRETT ET AL 8215630 REGULATOR FOR SOUND REPRODUCING AND SYNCHRONIZING MACHINES Filed March 25, 1929 2 s ts sheet 2 213.11 M brawn 6M INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1 1931 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES HJGABRETT AND BRUNO G. HEBBER, 01 DALLAS, TEXAS REGULATOR FOB" SOUND BEPRODUCING AND SYNOHRONIZING MACHINES Appllcationnled larch 25, 1929. Serial No. 349,539.

This invention relates to sound reproducing devices and particularly to a device for synchronizing sounds with motion pictures and hasfor its principal object a novel ar- 5 rangement of parts co-operating with a reproducing machine to regulate the speed of the latter to properly correspond to motion pictures reproduced on a screen as in the case of a dialogue 'or the like, and other 1 sounds particularly important to the proper presentation of the subject matter of the film.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device particularly adapted for use in connection with a sound reproducing machine operatingin conjunction with a motion picture projector to maintain proper synchronization between these two elements at all tim The invention i iirther com rehends, among '20 its objects, a device calcu ated to restore proper synchronization of sound to correspond with the movements of the images on a screen as projected by a motion picture projector when such synchronization has been interrupted by breakage of the film or the displacement of the stylus on the record, or any other reason for an accidental interru tion of the synchronization.

et another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described capable of use in connection with any synchronizing or sound reproducing machine with which thedisk type of record is used, such as the phonograph'or the like, and especially in conjunction. with the most modern and commonly used synchronizing equipment of this type. t

manifest in its simplicity, having few parts, the manufacturing cost would be negligible compared to its usefulness and due to the absence of excessive frictional elements, the replacement of parts 1s reduced to a miniaway to show the arrangement of gears and bushing within the regulating lever.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the invention, showing the worm drive arrangement.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention, showing the drive gears in detail and gear teeth around the turn table, and

Fi ure 4 is a detail view of the regulating ever showing the handle and tension sprlng.

No means have been heretofore provided to regulate or restore the synchronization of sound with motion pictures when an accidental interru tion occurs in the presentw tion of a sound film production and it is the fundamental purpose of this invention to provide a means whereby this may be accomplished.

that the present invention embodies many useful elements to overcome the conditions described.

1 i,?1?1=oee eding further 'with the description, A still further ob'ect of the invention is reference is again-made to the drawings and primarily to the numeral 1 representing the base of the invention, upon .whichis mounted a frame 2 having a flat rounded portion a forming a bearing through which a vertical shaft 3 is rotatably mounted, the lowerend of which is journaled in a bearing 4 and having a turn table rotatably disposed upon its upper end as shown in Figure 1.

A shaft 6 journaled within a bearing 7, secured at the rear and at the approximate center of the frame 2, drives the turn table 5 by means of a worm gear 8 meshing with a worm and 4; and rigidly attached to the vertical shaft 3, the latter having a gear 10 fixed to its upper end immediately beneath the turn table 5, and capable of engaging and rotating a gear 11 which engages the ring gear 12 on the turn table 5.

The gear 11, is rotatably mounted on stub shaft 13 secured, near the end of the regulating arm 11,'which projects from a bearing 15 which latter is split at Z) to allow yieldabihty as shown by Figure 4, as the handles 16 of the regulating arm are brought together. The tension spring 17, held to the handleslG by bolt (2, assists in maintaining a positive grip within the bearing 15 when the latter is inoperative.

The bearing 15, in the regulating lever, as shown in Figure 1, is adapted to seatclosely around a-bushing 18 which is secured to the top of the bearing a against rotation witlr respect to the shaft 3, which operates through said bushing 18. lVhen the handles 16 of the regulating lever are operated. the tension on the bushing 18 is relieved, to allow free movement of the bearing 15 around the bushing 18.

In operation, a record, being placed upon the turn table 5, the latter is set into motion and driven by power imparted through the shaft 6 bein' connected to projector machine by a flexible oint or its equivalent, and worm gear 8 to the corresponding worm gear 9 on the vertical shaft 3 to which is attached at its upper end, a gear 10, which engages a smaller gear 11 to impart motion to the turn table 5 through the ring gear 12 of the latter, as

shown in Figures 1 and 3.

It must be borne in mind that the turn table 5 is not attached to the vertical shaft 3 and that it is driven only by the gear 11 from the gear 10. The gear 11, therefore, situated near the end of the arm 14, can be moved circumferentially within the confines of the ring gear 12 of the turntable at will without affecting the movement of the latter after the gear 11 is positioned, but when the latter is moved while the turn table 5 is in motion,-depending on the direction such movement is made, there will be a momentary pause or increase in, speed of the turn table 5, that is to i say, should it be desired to retard the rotation of the turn table 5, as in the case of the latter regulating lever, as described, it is understood that the turn table 5 is normally rotated in a clockwise direction by the gears 10 and 11 and the gear 11 being situated on a movable arm, and consequently capable of displacement with respect to the gear 10 and the ring gear 12 without impairing the driving con nection between the latter elements, the mo-' tion of theturntable 5 can be controlled by the movementof the gear 11 around the internal circumference ol the ring gear 12.

It is obvious, then, that when the handles 16 of the regulating arm are operated, the gear 11 may be moved either intbe direction of rotation of the turn table 5 or in a r everse direction elfecting respectively a momentary pause or a sudden increase in speed of the latter to resynchronize the sound produced from the record with the movement of the images projected upon the screen. Thebest results can be obtained, however, when the regulating lever is operated very slowly so as not to distort the sound.

Obviously, the structure shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention.'

Vhat is claimed is:

1. A regulating device for sound reproducing machines including a turntable having an internal gear ring, a vertically disposed shaft, a driving gear mounted upon and rotated by said shaft, an intermediate gear for transmitting motion from said driving gear to said turntable. a bushing carried by said vertical shaft, a ring having anintegral arm tensionally mounted on said bushing and affording a bearing for said intermediate gear and means associated with said arm to relieve the tension of said ring whereby to rotate the latter to move said intermediate gear circumferentiallv relative to its points of engagement with said driving gear and gear ring.

2; A device for resvnchronizing sound interrupted in its relationship with moving images projected from a motion picture machine including an epicyclic gear train associated with a turntable. a frictionally constrained member mounted upon the central shaft of said gear train and having oppositely extending arms, one of which affords a bearing for the intermediate gear of said train and a tension relieving arm associated with the other of said arms. and operable to relieve the tension of said frictional member whcrebv to effectcircumferential displacement of said intermediate gear.

3. A device for resvnchronizing sound with moving images projected upon a motion picture screen including a turntable, an epi- -.c vclical gear arrangement in which the intinn means and U1 s nendie operative to relieve said friction whereby said intermediste gear may he moved eircumferentially fie ihe ei said 'urnt'eble.

4 in combination with e motion picture pi'ejeeting machine, a sound resynchronizing apparatus inehiding a turntable, an epicyclieel gee arrangement receiving its driving power from the drive shaft of said projecting means frietionaliy connected to the driving" shaft of said gear arrangement having oppesiieiy extending arms of unequal length, one 05 said arms affording a bearing intermediate gear of said assembly, a spring tensioned lever associated with the other of said arms and arranged to be comnressed to relieve the tension of said frictionviii means whereby to actuate said intermediate gear eircumferentially to alter the speed of said turntable. s

In testimony whereof We affix our signasures.

CHARLES H. GARRETT. BRUNO G. HERBER. 

